Emeryville Massage School

Sabrina developed a passion for massage through her own journey of healing. Dealing with chronic pain from a childhood injury, led her to seek alternative treatments to manage it. It was in receiving bodywork, and seeing how powerful it can be, that she realized her potential to help others. Sabrina is a graduate of NHI’s 1350 hour program, and is a Certified Massage Therapist and Neuromuscular Therapist. Her experience includes a day spa, a therapeutic massage studio, and assisting with bodywork seminars. While always making time to come back to tutor, TA, and now teach at NHI, which is her dream job. “The human body is so fascinating, I feel as though I could spend the rest of my life learning about it, bodywork modalities, and sharing that with others.”

A lifelong love of dance and a fascination with the human body are what led Renee to pursue a career in massage therapy. After she graduated from NHI Emeryville in 2007, Renee worked in a variety of settings, including integrative wellness centers, acupuncture clinics, and spas. This valuable experience helped her build a successful private practice, which she continues to maintain today, in addition to being a teacher and mentor at NHI. Renee has also practiced Tai Chi for more than a decade and utilizes its principles and philosophies in life and in the classroom. She enjoys inspiring people to feel empowered in themselves, to experience freedom in their bodies, and to feel open to life's possibilities. "What we share here at NHI is so much more than the practice of massage therapy. It’s really about discovering the potential you have within you, and learning to share that in the unique way that only you can do. I feel blessed to love what I do and truly believe that we are changing the world one massage, and one massage therapist, at a time."

Margy graduated NHI in 1992 with the goal of returning as an instructor. She has held a private practice in Alameda for over 25 years, has managed massage programs and worked in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, and performed on-site in the tech industry. Margy shares her work, pro bono in various hospice settings and with cancer patients. In her teaching, Margy's passion for anatomy, physiology and pathology is contagious. Margy has 2 sons, is an avid yogi and professional pastry chef. "Massage therapy is a miraculous blending of science with the art of massage. NHI is an evolutionary institution with truly wonderful intention combined with professionalism."

Lisa is a 1996 Graduate of NHI's Core Massage Therapist & Health Educator Program and has been a dedicated NHI employee for over 15 years. Her contributions to NHI's mission of "Helping People Have Work They Love" have come through numerous roles held, which include Student Life & Career Coordinator, Mentor, Campus Manager, as well as her current role of Instructor. Lisa is passionate in establishing connections with each individual who passes through NHI's doors and looks to provide each Student and Graduate with a balance of support and motivation, tailored to their specific needs. Lisa invites any opportunity to share knowledge about the benefits of massage with others and loves to share mini massage facts with children and youth. I guess one might say that she enjoys "planting the seeds of self-awareness, self-care, and a life-long practice and love of receiving massage."

Kirsten began her journey with NHI as a student in 2004. While nurturing a growing love for massage therapy, she realized that she naturally also gravitated toward a skill set built in her previous career: training and education for adult learners. As a student tutor at NHI, and later as a Teaching Assistant post-graduation, Kirsten was able to explore a variety of approaches to teaching and learning while honing her massage skills. When NHI approached her in 2006 to invite her to merge her loves of education and massage by becoming a teacher, she jumped at the chance. While growing a robust and diverse massage practice, Kirsten also began to grow with NHI. Kirsten focused strongly on understanding the Core Program curriculum and how to effectively deliver it to a wide-variety of students. Over the years, Kirsten became a key member of the curriculum and faculty training teams, teacher and trainer of the ANMT Program, Co-Manager of the ANMT Program and now currently is the Director of Training and Program Development for all NHI programs and campuses. “My passion is to create educational experiences that make teachers excited to teach and students excited to learn.”

A graduate of both the Core and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Programs at NHI in Emeryville, Frankie Menzel has been working as a massage therapist since 2010. Growing up with a mother who worked as a physical therapist, Frankie not only inherited her fascination with the human body, but also learned from her what it was to have a compassionate heart. It was this demonstration, of connecting with and helping people who were in need of physical care, which compelled his interest in massage. Frankie’s concentration is on the more clinical aspect of massage, focusing on rehabilitation and realignment bodywork, in order to address issues that recur in people’s lives, while incorporating some esoteric principles of working with the body as well. In addition to his role at NHI Emeryville as an instructor and group mentor, Frankie continues to see regular clients in his thriving practice, appreciative of his ability to bring real-life examples from the industry with him into the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Frankie enjoys exploring local hiking trails, cooking and experimenting with new recipes, and spending quality time with his family. “Massage is where science and art can come together.”

Esko’s 10 years of experience in the massage therapy field have been fed by very eclectic knowledge, ranging from fitness training and working with professional athletes to being a Reiki master teacher. One of his best strengths is his unique approach and ability to explain a lesson many different ways. He encompasses massage as an art form and can draw from over ten different modalities during any given session. “I am always learning. NHI has given me a job that I love, in the field of massage therapy, and continues to give me an education ten years later.”

Donell earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Human Development where she worked in the Healthcare Industry with a passion for Service, Quality, and developing others. As her path in Health Care changed another opened which lead her to NHI training program. She is a proud graduate of NHI Core and Advanced Neuromuscular Therapy Programs which has given her vast knowledge and experience which has opened doors welcoming her to work at high-end spas, Chiropractic offices, Corporate Events and allowed her the ability to create a successful private mobile massage practice. During this time, she has pursued studies of herbalism and energy healing. Getting paid to study and do the work she loves such as healing touch and helping others find their massage passion, is a gift. When not on campus you will find Donell behind a camera lens capturing nature’s grandness and teaching Jazzercise Lo, another business she currently owns and operates. “Thoughts manifest into actions, therefore, if you think it, it will be so”.

Brandon began a successful and exciting career in massage therapy after completing 900 hours of training at the National Holistic Institute, he has been working as a holistic health practitioner with a focus in shamanic practice and herbalism since 2010. Since graduating, he has worked in high-end spas as well as healing centers around the bay area and has maintained a lucrative private in-home practice. Brandon is thrilled to be back at NHI and excited to create a fun and focused environment for his students to attain their career goals.

Betty has 17 years of experience working in the Federal Student Loan field – seven of those years have been with National Holistic Institute. Betty is currently the Coordinator/Supervisor for National Holistic Institute’s Work Study Clinic, where students work on the public to assist in their tuition obligations. “I planned on retiring five years ago, but I can not imagine my life without the students – I may never retire!”

Amy is a 1995 graduate of NHI’s Core Program. Since graduating from NHI, Amy has worked in chiropractic offices, salons and in private practice. Most recently, Amy’s focus has been on Transformational Bodywork, Energy Work and Shamanic Practices, even traveling to Ireland to complete an Advanced Shamanic Certification Course in 2017. Amy also has an MA in Counseling Psychology and has worked with children with Autism since 1990. Amy is thrilled to have returned ‘home’ to NHI as a teacher and mentor. “In all of my experience, I have come to realize that my life’s purpose is to help others find theirs. To me, being a teacher is one of the best ways of helping others find Purpose and Direction in their lives. I believe that doing what you love, what you’re passionate about, is the only way to truly live one’s life Authentically, and helping people find work they love is what being a teacher at NHI is all about.”